ANCHOR FOR A HEIGHT SAFETY SYSTEM AND HEIGHT SAFETY SYSTEM INCORPORATING AN ANCHOR
Embodiments of anchors for use in height safety systems are described, the anchors including: a generally elongate member; an attachment point for a safety line is provided at one end of the member; the anchor is arranged to be affixed to a sturdy object so that, in use, the attachment point is in a raised position. Various height safety systems including such anchors are also described.
Latest Safety Compliance Design & Services Pty Ltd Patents:
The present invention relates to the field of safety devices and particularly relates to anchors which provide a mounting point for a height safety system for use in ensuring worker safety when working in or near to potential fall zones.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTIONWhen working near to a fall zone, such as near to the edge of a raised platform with no railings, there is a significant risk of injury to workers. In order to guard against this, height safety systems can be used such as a fall arrest or fall restraint systems which typically involve attaching a safety line to a worker by way of a harness. A fall restraint system operates to restrain a person from reaching a position where they can fall. A fall arrest system operates to arrest a person's fall in the event of a fall.
When working inside a building, a height safety system can be set-up whereby one end of the safety line is fixed to a sturdy anchor point such as a beam, pillar or other structural building element and the other is fitted to the harness of a worker. However, when working in remote or field locations, there is rarely a suitable sturdy anchor point available to attach the line to.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn a first aspect the present invention provides an anchor for use in a height safety system, the anchor including: a generally elongate member; an attachment point for a safety line is provided at one end of the member; the anchor is arranged to be affixed to a sturdy object so that, in use, the attachment point is in a raised position.
The elongate member may include a resilient portion which is arranged to deform in the event of a fall.
The resilient portion may be formed from thermoplastic.
The attachment point may be rotatably mounted to the elongate member.
The anchor may be arranged to be affixed to a towing hitch of a vehicle.
The anchor may be arranged to fit to an upright scaffolding member.
The anchor may further include a second attachment point for a safety line provided proximate to the other end of the elongate member.
In a second aspect the present invention provides a height safety system including an anchor according to the first aspect of the invention and further including stabilising members that extend from the anchor.
The stabilising members may act in tension.
The stabilising members may act in compression.
The height safety system may further include a safety line that is arranged to be strung between the attachment points of the two anchors.
In a third aspect the present invention provides a method of installing a height safety system including the steps of: providing an anchor according to the first aspect of the invention; and attaching the anchor to a vehicle.
The anchor may be attached to the tow hitch of a vehicle.
In a fourth aspect the present invention provides a method of installing a height safety system for performing work on an elevator including the steps of providing an anchor according to the first aspect of the invention; and attaching the anchor to the top side of an elevator.
In a fifth aspect the present invention provides a method of installing a height safety system for performing work assembling or disassembling a scaffold including the steps of providing an anchor according to the first aspect of the invention; and attaching the anchor to an upright portion of the scaffold.
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
In some cases, a worker may wish to perform work which involves moving around on top of the Eimco vehicle itself. In this case, a height safety system can be used incorporating the anchor of
Referring to
Referring to
Once both anchors 100, 200 are in place, the safety line 400 is pulled tight and attached to attachment point 115. A turnbuckle rated at 2.5 tons is situated between the attachment point 115 and the safety line 400. The turnbuckle allows for the safety line to be tensioned prior to the worker attaching to the safety line. A worker may then attach themselves to the line 400 by way of their own safety line and harness. An inertia reel may be employed as a fall arrest device. The worker may thus perform work on top of the Eimco vehicle 40 and is prevented from falling from the vehicle.
To dismantle the system, safety line is released from attachment point 115 and thereafter disassembly is the reverse of the assembly steps.
Referring to
Referring to
Anchors operating on similar principles to anchors 10, 100, & 400 may be used to attach to other types of vehicles. For instance, referring to
Referring to
Anchor 600 includes an upper member 616 and a lower member 614, these are joined by way of an insert of thermoplastic material 617 as for the previously described embodiments and the upper member 616 carries an attachment point in the form of rud lug 618. Anchor 600 further includes a sleeve 620 which is attached to lower member 614 by way of web 622. Sleeve 620, web 622 and lower member 614 are joined by welding.
Scaffolding includes a number of upright members. When assembling or disassembling scaffolding, anchor 600 is fitted to the scaffolding by sliding sleeve 620 over an exposed end of an upright scaffolding member. Anchor may be secured to the upright member by inserting a locking pin through hole 624. A height safety system may then be attached to rud lug 618 with the usual harness attachment to a worker. In the event of a worker falling, then the anchor 600 arrests their fall. As for previously described embodiments, thermoplastic insert may deform to absorb energy and reduce risk of injury to the worker. Also, deformation of the thermoplastic insert acts as a tell tale to indicate that a fall event has occurred.
As the scaffolding is assembled or disassembled, then the anchor 600 is removed and re-fitted higher up, or lower down on the scaffolding as required. Two of anchors 600 may be used so that one of anchors 600 is always affixed to the scaffolding to provide an attachment point for a height safety system.
Referring to
Anchor 700 is intended for use either with another like anchor, or with another sturdy attachment point, such as a wall of a building, to set up an overhead static safety line will now be described. First, one end of the static line (not shown) is attached to rud lug 718 on one of anchors 700 and the free end is threaded through the rub lug 718 provided on another similar anchor 700. The anchors 700 are then affixed to the floor in the desired location along with floor plates 722 and steel cables 724 are installed and pre-tensioned so that the masts are situated on either side of the potential fall zone. The free end of the static line is then attached to eyelet 715 and pulled tight. The static line is now strung overhead the work area. The static line is used as an attachment point for attaching fall arrest devices, such as inertia reel devices.
The static line may be lowered by releasing the end from eyelet 715 and allowing the line to go slack. If needed, a cord or rope or the like can be attached to the free end of the safety line which can be paid out to lower the safety line to ground level. Lowering the safety line is useful in the event that plant or other tall machinery needs to be moved across the work area that would otherwise foul on the static line. Similarly, the static line can be lowered for attaching or removing inertia reel devices or other safety lines. Workers may thus work in the work area with height safety arrangements in place.
Should a worker fall from a height, the inertia reel locks within about 200 mm of falling. The worker's fall is then broken by the static line. The attachment points 718 experience the shock load of arresting the fall, plus the bending moment of the weight of the fallen person. Thermoplastic inserts 717 of both masts deform under the load on the safety line to absorb the shock loads to prevent these being transferred to the line attachment points or to the worker, via their harness. The deformation of the inserts reduces shock loads and helps reduce the likelihood of injury to the worker as might be caused by a sudden stop in the harness, such as broken ribs or the like.
Testing has demonstrated that an embodiment the overhead static line is suitable to carry a maximum of two persons to a combined weight of 320 kg.
It can be seen that embodiments of the invention have at least the following advantages:
-
- A height safety system can be set up in remote outdoor locations by attaching to a vehicle
- The height safety system can be dismantled and stored in the vehicle
- A height safety system can be provided to allow for working on top of a vehicle
- A height safety system can be provided which can affix to a wide range of sturdy objects
- Deformable inserts absorb energy to reduce shock loads and risk of associated injuries. Thus, a worker may avoid medical treatment, and could even continue working on the same day as experiencing a fall event.
Any reference to prior art contained herein is not to be taken as an admission that the information is common general knowledge, unless otherwise indicated.
Finally, it is to be appreciated that various alterations or additions may be made to the parts previously described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the present invention.
Claims
1. An anchor for use in a height safety system, the anchor including:
- a generally elongate member;
- an attachment point for a safety line is provided at one end of the member;
- the anchor is arranged to be affixed to a sturdy object so that, in use, the attachment point is in a raised position.
2. An anchor according to claim 1 wherein the elongate member includes a resilient portion which is arranged to deform in the event of a fall.
3. An anchor according to claim 2 wherein the resilient portion is formed from thermoplastic.
4. An anchor according to claim 1 wherein the attachment point is rotatably mounted to the elongate member.
5. An anchor according to claim 1 which is arranged to be affixed to a towing hitch of a vehicle.
6. An anchor according to claim 1 which is arranged to fit to an upright scaffolding member.
7. An anchor according to claim 1 further including a second attachment point for a safety line provided proximate to the other end of the elongate member.
8. A height safety system including an anchor according to claim 1 and further including stabilising members that extend from the anchor.
9. A height safety system according to claim 8 wherein the stabilising members act in tension.
10. A height safety system according to claim 8 wherein the stabilising members act in compression.
11. A height safety system including two anchors according to claim 1, the system further including a safety line that is arranged to be strung between the attachment points of the two anchors.
12. A method of installing a height safety system including the steps of:
- providing an anchor according to claim 1; and
- attaching the anchor to a vehicle.
13. A method according to claim 12 wherein the anchor is attached to the tow hitch of a vehicle.
14. A method of installing a height safety system for performing work on an elevator including the steps of providing an anchor according to claim 1; and
- attaching the anchor to the top side of an elevator.
15. A method of installing a height safety system for performing work assembling or disassembling a scaffold including the steps of providing an anchor according to claim 1; and
- attaching the anchor to an upright portion of the scaffold.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 30, 2010
Publication Date: Feb 16, 2012
Applicant: Safety Compliance Design & Services Pty Ltd (New South Wales)
Inventors: Peter Payne (New South Wales), Mark Elkins (New South Wales)
Application Number: 13/260,091
International Classification: E04G 5/00 (20060101); B23P 11/00 (20060101);